Speakers support NJ sports betting at state Senate panel hearing

TRENTON — A state Senate committee hearing on a ballot question to legalize sports betting in New Jersey produced nothing but support for the measure Monday from guest speakers and committee members.

State Sen. James Whelan, D-Atlantic, the chairman of the State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, said he expects the public to be receptive in November as well.

“My sense is that it will pass,” Whelan said. “I think we are long over the hump with regards to legalizing gambling generally.”

A Fairleigh Dickinson University Public Mind poll in April found 53 percent of state residents favored the measure and 30 percent opposed it, with nearly identical levels of support among Democrats and Republicans.

State Sen. Robert Gordon, D-Fair Lawn, said he supports the proposition because it would allow for sports betting at the state’s horse racing tracks — including the Meadowlands Racetrack — as well as at Atlantic City casinos.

“Taxpayers can’t subsidize an industry, but I see other states offering tools to allow their tracks to compete, then we have to offer tools as well,” said Gordon, referring to slot machine revenues that subsidize racing purses in New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. “My big concern is about gambling addiction. But in this environment, I also have to be concerned about jobs and the North Jersey economy.”

The non-binding ballot question is part of an effort by state Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, to overturn a 1993 federal law that banned sports betting in all states except Nevada, with limited wagering in Delaware, Oregon and Montana. Whelan said if the measure passes, he will try to get a bill passed during the lame-duck session following the November elections.

Governor Christie has said that it is pointless to pursue sports betting because of the federal law. Lesniak contends that federal courts will only address the issue if it is clear that the law is the only obstacle to sports betting in New Jersey.

Lesniak’s bill would not allow wagering on New Jersey university events or on college events held in New Jersey, such as the NCAA basketball regionals.

Jeff Gural — who appears to be on the verge of taking over management of the Meadowlands Racetrack — and Tom Luchento, the leader of the state’s harness racing industry, were among those to testify. Luchento said that Nevada gamblers bet more than $2.7 billion on sporting events last year, with billions more wagered nationwide through illegal bookmakers.

Professional sports leagues — including the National Football League, whose Giants and Jets play in MetLife Stadium adjacent to the Meadowlands Racetrack — traditionally have opposed the expansion of sports betting beyond Nevada. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Monday that the league has “a long-held, unwavering opposition to gambling on NFL games.”

Whelan called that stance “hypocritical,” saying that league partners, such as ESPN, employ analysts who openly discuss point spreads on pregame programming.

“If the NFL really wanted to crack down on this, they’d say, ‘Don’t do that anymore,’” Whelan said.

Speakers support NJ sports betting at state Senate panel hearing

TRENTON — A state Senate committee hearing on a ballot question to legalize sports betting in New Jersey produced nothing but support for the measure Monday from guest speakers and committee members.

State Sen. James Whelan, D-Atlantic, the chairman of the State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, said he expects the public to be receptive in November as well.

“My sense is that it will pass,” Whelan said. “I think we are long over the hump with regards to legalizing gambling generally.”

A Fairleigh Dickinson University Public Mind poll in April found 53 percent of state residents favored the measure and 30 percent opposed it, with nearly identical levels of support among Democrats and Republicans.

State Sen. Robert Gordon, D-Fair Lawn, said he supports the proposition because it would allow for sports betting at the state’s horse racing tracks — including the Meadowlands Racetrack — as well as at Atlantic City casinos.

“Taxpayers can’t subsidize an industry, but I see other states offering tools to allow their tracks to compete, then we have to offer tools as well,” said Gordon, referring to slot machine revenues that subsidize racing purses in New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. “My big concern is about gambling addiction. But in this environment, I also have to be concerned about jobs and the North Jersey economy.”

The non-binding ballot question is part of an effort by state Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, to overturn a 1993 federal law that banned sports betting in all states except Nevada, with limited wagering in Delaware, Oregon and Montana. Whelan said if the measure passes, he will try to get a bill passed during the lame-duck session following the November elections.

Governor Christie has said that it is pointless to pursue sports betting because of the federal law. Lesniak contends that federal courts will only address the issue if it is clear that the law is the only obstacle to sports betting in New Jersey.

Lesniak’s bill would not allow wagering on New Jersey university events or on college events held in New Jersey, such as the NCAA basketball regionals.

Jeff Gural — who appears to be on the verge of taking over management of the Meadowlands Racetrack — and Tom Luchento, the leader of the state’s harness racing industry, were among those to testify. Luchento said that Nevada gamblers bet more than $2.7 billion on sporting events last year, with billions more wagered nationwide through illegal bookmakers.

Professional sports leagues — including the National Football League, whose Giants and Jets play in MetLife Stadium adjacent to the Meadowlands Racetrack — traditionally have opposed the expansion of sports betting beyond Nevada. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Monday that the league has “a long-held, unwavering opposition to gambling on NFL games.”

Whelan called that stance “hypocritical,” saying that league partners, such as ESPN, employ analysts who openly discuss point spreads on pregame programming.

“If the NFL really wanted to crack down on this, they’d say, ‘Don’t do that anymore,’” Whelan said.